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Crane Injury Lawyers

Serving Nationwide

Crane injuries have become an increasing concern for agencies that regulate safety for
construction sites. In September of 2006, the National Institute of Occupational
Safety issued a national alert that was focused on increasing the awareness
of the need to reduce the rate of injuries and deaths associated with
crane accidents. The NIOSH issued a very stern warning that focused on
the frequency and the manner in which industrial workers were being injured
and killed as a result of crane-related accidents. Some of the causes
mentioned in the warning include boon collapse, top-over, uncontrolled
hoisted loads and more.

In the safety alert issued by the NIOSH, a point was made to request the
assistance of construction companies in preventing the injuries and deaths
that were becoming far too common due to employees being exposed to uncontrolled
hoisted loads, mobile crane tip-overs and boon collapses. It was also
suggested that it is likely that a significant number of industrial workers
were not clearly aware of the high risk of injury and death associated
with operating or working in close proximity to mobile cranes.

One of the most common causes of mobile crane tip-overs is operating the
crane outside the parameters of the manufacturer's recommended maximum
lifting capacity. Additionally, boons normally collapse due to improper
assembly or disassembly, and they can also collapse as a result of being
overloaded or being improperly rigged. When either of these malfunctions
take place, it can workers at risk by causing the working to be struck
by uncontrolled loads, parts of the crane itself or struck by falling
objects. Because of the height from which these items are falling and
the exorbitant weight of the objects, the injuries are normally of the
catastrophic variety.

Mechanics of Cranes

While they may appear simple in design and function, every crane is a
highly complex mechanism that requires an exceptionally high skill capacity
by the operator. In addition to equipment failure, operator error is another
cause of crane-related accidents. There are two ways that a crane operator
gains the expertise necessary to effectively and safely operate a crane
— through proper training and supervised hands-on experience. One
of the most important things that the operator must master is the understanding
and use of the crane's load chart, which is vital to developing the
ability to safely operate the crane. Every crane has a load chart, and
that chart will reveal the maximum load capacity for the crane, and this
chart, which great specificity, outlines the limitations of the machine.
Any time that a crane operator chooses to operate a crane outside of the
parameters of the specifications for that machine, they place themselves
and their coworkers at a significantly higher risk of catastrophic injury of death.

It is vital that the crews that set up the crane, set it up properly,
and it is equally vital that the crane is properly inspected upon being
set up. Also, proper maintenance of the crane is also essential to ensure
that the crane operates safely. When crews fail to set up a crane properly
and proper procedures are not followed, it is possible for the crane to
become unstable, especially when its lifting capacity is exceeded.

Another danger that is prevalent in crane operation, is operating on a
barge, which is significantly different than operating a crane on land.
When a crane operator lifts a load while operating a crane from a barge,
the crane will lean toward the load, an action that is known as a list.
Additionally, when the crane swings its load, it can cause the barge to
list as well, making it immensely important that the crane operator be
aware of this process and be prepared for it, in order to properly compensate
for the swinging motion that is created during the list.

Crane Injury Statistics

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains a national database that
monitors the fatal injuries associated with occupation. This database
is known as The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, and it identifies
work-related fatalities in the United States. Between 1992 and 2002, NIOSH
identified 719 cases of work-related fatalities that were either directly
or indirectly attributed to crane accidents. The injury attributes were
as follows:

Victims who were struck by a part of a mobile crane or an object from an
uncontrolled hoisted load (40.3%)

Injuries associated with electrocution due to the crane making contact
with overhead power lines or any other electrical source (24.1)

Falling from the cab of the crane or from some part of the crane structure (12.2)

Moving mobile cranes from one site to another (10.6%)

Caught in the moving mechanisms of the crane (10.2%)

Other (2.6%)

Prior to the current warning, the NIOSH issued a previous warning that
focused on the hazards associated with electrocution concerns, in addition
to workers be struck by swinging or falling objects as a result of a tip-over,
uncontrolled hoisted load or boon collapse, which accounted for 52.8 percent
of the fatalities associated with cranes.

Compensation for Crane Injuries

It is important that industrial employers make sure that their crane operators
are properly trained, and that all personnel are adequately informed of
the risks involved with work on or near a mobile crane. It is also the
employer's responsibility to ensure that all workers comply the safety
regulations and requirements established by OSHA.

If you are a family member has been injured as a result of a crane accident,
whether offshore or on land, then we urge you to
contact The Doan Law Firm in order to speak with one of our crane injury attorneys. The vast majority
of crane accidents is a direct result of negligence, whether it is poor
maintenance, overloading or some other error. If you have been injured
in a crane accident, you deserve to recover compensation for your injuries
and other damages, and we will fight for every dime that you deserve.

After an accident, the responsible party's insurance company may try
to reduce the claim amount. Commonly, insurance adjusters are trained
to get information from the
injured to assist in reducing the claim. Though some insurers are less guilty
of this practice than others, it is important to realize that insurance
companies are profit-oriented corporations and reducing claims results
in increased profits for shareholders. This can create a situation for
the injured in which they are offered a settlement that does not truly
reflect the damages suffered. If you accept this settlement, you lose
the ability to get more money should your injuries require further medical
treatments. It is critical that victims get legal assistance in any personal
injury case, and
The Doan Law Firm is prepared to fight relentlessly for your rights.